Because there is no better thrill.
None.
May 21, 2011
Why I Make...
The things I make...
easter egg hunt bags, made by Grandmama, pattern found on PurlBee
Because there is no better thrill.
None.
Because there is no better thrill.
None.
May 20, 2011
Lilac Heaven
Every day I drive this street to and from work.
Every day I have been watching. Watching and waiting. Hoping for a good lilac year.
And this has been a good one.
Last year, Wonderful Guy drove me around our fair burg to collect photos of the blooming trees. This past Saturday....we drove my way to work. Only this time we pulled over and took a bit of a walk.
This planting lines one of the main arteries of our fair burg, but at this point it is more a 'boulevard'.
The street is approaching a busy intersection, that was a four way stop on the outskirts of town when I approached work from a different direction 14 years ago.
These sentinels have seen the change.
Now they screen the adjacent neighborhood from the noise of the traffic.
The row of scent-iness continues for probably a block and a half, maybe two blocks.
And the bushes have been cared for. There is evidence of pruning at the base.
There is a goodly variety, that is for sure.
I wonder if it's the neighborhood's bailiwick, or the city who takes such good care. I surely would like to thank them.
(Click for big. They are worth it.)
Every day I have been watching. Watching and waiting. Hoping for a good lilac year.
And this has been a good one.
Last year, Wonderful Guy drove me around our fair burg to collect photos of the blooming trees. This past Saturday....we drove my way to work. Only this time we pulled over and took a bit of a walk.
This planting lines one of the main arteries of our fair burg, but at this point it is more a 'boulevard'.
The street is approaching a busy intersection, that was a four way stop on the outskirts of town when I approached work from a different direction 14 years ago.
These sentinels have seen the change.
Now they screen the adjacent neighborhood from the noise of the traffic.
The row of scent-iness continues for probably a block and a half, maybe two blocks.
And the bushes have been cared for. There is evidence of pruning at the base.
There is a goodly variety, that is for sure.
I wonder if it's the neighborhood's bailiwick, or the city who takes such good care. I surely would like to thank them.
(Click for big. They are worth it.)
May 19, 2011
Grounded
Middle of May in northern Colorado.
The winter deadfall has been cleaned out of the yard (finally), and the early blooms are going strong. There are enough for a fun bouquet for the kitchen table.
A seed display at the hardware store sucked me in a few months ago. I planted a few things indoors, and even planted some directly outside. Well guess what. Mother Nature winning!
And we may have a tenant in one of the birdhouses.
I can believe that I am going to be sitting on my patio after riding home from work on my bike by the end of the month.
The winter deadfall has been cleaned out of the yard (finally), and the early blooms are going strong. There are enough for a fun bouquet for the kitchen table.
A seed display at the hardware store sucked me in a few months ago. I planted a few things indoors, and even planted some directly outside. Well guess what. Mother Nature winning!
Peas
Lettuce
carrots
While my shorter iris were blooming when I got home from my trip, Silverado, my consistent first bloomer, opened May 15th with a perfect bloom, under cloudy skies and rain drops.
And we may have a tenant in one of the birdhouses.
I can believe that I am going to be sitting on my patio after riding home from work on my bike by the end of the month.
May 18, 2011
Especially Proud
The idea and purpose of this project came to me one night before sleep. One skein of silk, bought on sale (40% off, no less!). One dress, for Eldest’s wedding in Cancun. The need for simple handmade accessory, for the shoulders of a sleeveless dress, without adding heaviness or warmth.
The colors of yarn and dress were verified the next day as working well together. Next issue was finding a shawlette pattern that was suitable for yarn, yardage, and purpose. (Ravelry, I worship thee and thy advanced search capabilities.) Not just Annis, but Mini-Annis! seemed to fit the bill.
Knitting up in just a few days (seriously, about 4, and not plane knitting), the lace pattern is nicely written, and works up very well. The short rows make a wonderfully shaped shawl. I think I will look for others.
I used only about 2/3's of the skein of yarn, and was wondering about the size of the completed shawl at first. Perhaps it was too diminuitive? But, and perhaps there are those who don't know this, blocking lace is absolute magic. Majick! I tell you. My shawl-ette is a perfectly sized shawl-ette.
After blocking, the shawl works perfectly for the wedding purposes. And after the wedding, I will have a silk scarf to tuck around the collar of a coat this winter.
I am especially proud.
(click for biggy to view details up close)
The colors of yarn and dress were verified the next day as working well together. Next issue was finding a shawlette pattern that was suitable for yarn, yardage, and purpose. (Ravelry, I worship thee and thy advanced search capabilities.) Not just Annis, but Mini-Annis! seemed to fit the bill.
Knitting up in just a few days (seriously, about 4, and not plane knitting), the lace pattern is nicely written, and works up very well. The short rows make a wonderfully shaped shawl. I think I will look for others.
I used only about 2/3's of the skein of yarn, and was wondering about the size of the completed shawl at first. Perhaps it was too diminuitive? But, and perhaps there are those who don't know this, blocking lace is absolute magic. Majick! I tell you. My shawl-ette is a perfectly sized shawl-ette.
After blocking, the shawl works perfectly for the wedding purposes. And after the wedding, I will have a silk scarf to tuck around the collar of a coat this winter.
I am especially proud.
(click for biggy to view details up close)
May 17, 2011
Dogwoods, Azaleas, and Wisteria! Oh My!
For me, the key is to appreciate what an individual place can offer.
L ady’s Slipper
And this one, which I think is another Lady's Slipper, but feel free to correct me (on this or any of the above).
So pretty cool. And also, extra points that I can impress the youngsters, you know…
It is rarely a redbud is spied here in northern Colorado
My growing season keeps me from having homegrown tomatoes until August, and often freezes them in early in October. And that is truly grievous. But I do not suffer with horrid and long, hot and humid summers. In general, I don’t have to treat my roses for mildew and black spot.
See. Life is good wherever I am. But I must say, when Eldest drove me toward her home, and I saw the dogwoods, I was Thrilled. To. Death! What an unlooked-for surprise.
The azalea and rhododendrons were crazy blooming, too. Some bushes were so full, I was thinking there weren’t any leaves there!
Wisteria is just so…grapey looking! And smelly, or fragrant, depending on one's particular take. But cool, too.
The thing about back east, and in the mid-south, and along the Missouri river valley, is this stuff grows free range! Well, not wisteria in Missouri
At the gardens, I also impressed my daughter by spying some early wildflowers.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
May apple
Trillium
And this one, which I think is another Lady's Slipper, but feel free to correct me (on this or any of the above).
She asked me how I knew these guys were there. These are ones I never get to see, the ones I have mostly only read about. These are special and uncommon ones for me to see.
So pretty cool. And also, extra points that I can impress the youngsters, you know…
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